Sonny : Movie Review

Why Nicolas Cage would want to tackle such a thoroughly unconvincing melodrama as "Sonny" for his directorial debut is a head-scratcher. At first glance, the project may seem to be an actor's movie with gritty, angst-ridden scenes full of raw emotions set against a demimonde of corruption and despair. Yet the story is bogus and its characters tissue-thin. Boxoffice for this Gold Circle/Samuel Goldwyn Films release will get an initial boost from curiosity about Cage's first directing outing and possibly from its lurid story line. Then word-of-mouth will quickly send "Sonny" to video shelves.